Measure words for verbs
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
When a verb is done more than once, it also requires a measure word to accompany it. This way the measure word is acting as a way to count the frequency or re-occurrence of an action.
Structure
Verb + Number + Measure Word
The grammar pattern is very similar to English. For example, "看三次" and "saw three times" mirror each other in structure. In Chinese sentences, these measure words can either come after the verb (as a complement) or before the word (as an adverb). You should also know that, like nouns, some verbs have special measure words to go with them. The basic verbal measure word, however, is 次.
Examples
- 去 过 两 次 have been there twice.
- 说 了 很 多 次 have said it many times.
- 读 两 遍 Read it twice.
- 已经 听 了 十几 遍 have already listened to it ten times.
- 打 了 三 下Hit
three times.
- 拍 它 几 下 Pat it a few times.
